N-400 Continuous Residence and Physical Presence Requirements

Question 1

How many years of continuous residence as a lawful permanent resident are generally required before filing Form N-400?

Accepted Answer

5 years

Answer

Most applicants must maintain continuous residence as a lawful permanent resident for at least 5 years before applying for naturalization.

Question 2

What is the minimum physical presence requirement for applicants under the general 5-year rule?

Accepted Answer

30 months

Answer

Applicants under the 5-year rule must have been physically present in the United States for at least 30 months out of the 5 years before filing.

Question 3

An absence from the United States of how long is presumed to break continuous residence?

Accepted Answer

More than 12 months

Answer

An absence of more than one year (12 months) creates a presumption that continuous residence has been broken and resets the continuous residence clock.

Question 4

How long must an applicant have lived in the USCIS district or state where they file their N-400 immediately before filing?

Accepted Answer

3 months

Answer

An applicant must have resided in the USCIS district or state in which they are filing for at least 3 months immediately preceding the filing of Form N-400.

Question 5

Which government benefit, if granted, allows a permanent resident to preserve their continuous residence during an extended absence abroad?

Accepted Answer

N-470 approval

Answer

Form N-470 (Application to Preserve Residence for Naturalization Purposes) allows eligible residents employed abroad to preserve their continuous residence for naturalization.

N-400 - Application for Naturalization Practice Test

N-400 - Application for Naturalization Practice Test

N-400 Continuous Residence and Physical Presence Requirements